Bailkoad signal-lantern



I J. L. WAGER.

Signal Lantern.

N0. 22,992, V Patented" Feb. 15,1859.

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UN STATES ATENT OFFICE.

JNO; L. .NVAGER, OF DEPOSIT, NEW YORK.

RAILROAD SIGNAL-LANTERN.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 22,992,dated February 15, 1859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, JOHN L. More, of Deposit, in the county of Broome andState of New York, have invented a i new and Improved Signal-Lantern forRailroad- Switches; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear andexact description of the same, reference being had to theannexed drawings, making a partof this specification, in which- Figure1, is a vertical central section of my invention applied to a switch baror lever. Fig. 2,- is an external view of dltto, with a portion brokenaway. Fig. 3, is a detached and inverted horizontal section of ditto,taken in the line w, a Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

This invention consists in constructing a lantern and attaching it to aswitch bar or lever in such a manner as hereinafter fully shown anddescribed, that by operating the switch the working parts of the lanternwill be adjusted automatically so that a different colored light will beshown or emitted for each position of the switch and the lantern at thesame time always allowed to remain in a vertical position irrespectiveof the position of the switch bar or lever.

The object of the invention is to obtain a simple automatic switchlantern that will be free from the objection attending all thosehitherto devised with which I am acquainted to wit, the burning out ofthe lantern in consequence of the inclined position given them by themovement or adjustment of the switch bar or lever.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct myinvention I will proceed to describe it.

A represents a switch bar or lever which is connected with a switch inthe usual way the switch being operated by moving the lever back andforth on its point of attachment 0:, with the switch connecting rod.These parts being arranged as usual do not require a minute description.

B, represents the case of the lantern which is of cylindrical form andhas a lamp 1), fitted in its bottom and secured therein by any suitablecatch or fastening 0. The case B, is provided with a perforated toppiece (Z, and a cap 6, which is removable. At two opposite sides of thecase B, a plate of colorless glass is inserted. See 7, f, Figs. 1

and 3.

Within the case B, a revolving frame C, is placed. This frame has a bailg, attached to its upper end and this bail is secured by a bolt or riveth, to a traverse bar i, in the upper part of the case B. The frameC,therefore is suspended from the barc', and is allowed to rotate freelyin the case B. In the frame C, Si colored plates of glass are placed,three ateach side, one red and two green ones on one side, the red platej, being between the two green onesk, is, as shown clearly in Fig. 3,and two red plates and one green one at the opposite side, the greenplate being between the two red ones. The frame C, is open at its bottomso that the top of the lamp 6, may extend up within it and the flame is,be about at its center, as shown clearly in Fig. 1. The upper end of theframe C, is also open, or has a circular opening Z, made in it and alsoa radial slot m, in which the lower end of a rod 12 is fitted. The upperend of the rod 07., is secured to a rod or shaft 0, which passes looselythrough the upper part of the case B, so that the case B, may swingfreely thereon. To the outer end of the rod or shaft 0, a socket p, isattached and this socket is fitted on the upper end of the switch bar orlever A.

From the above description it will be seen that by turning or moving thelever A, the frame C, will be rotated within the case B, the rotation ofsaid frame being due to its connection with the rod or shaft 0, by thearm a. The lever A, as shown in the drawings is connected with a doubleacting switch, that is, one that communicates with a main and two sidetracks, one at each side of the main track. Hence three colored glassplates are required in the frame C, as will be seen by referring to Fig.3, in which the one red glass plate 7', and two green plates 7c, 7c, areshown facing the main track that connects with the side tracks. A trainof cars going in the direction indicated by the arrow 1, and intendingto pass on to either side track would be warned not to approach theswitch as a red light would be shown, the red plate 7', being inregister with the plate f, in the case B, the switch being in line withthe main track. At the opposite side of the switch however a train goingin the reverse direction indicated by arrow 2, would have a green lightpresented to it signifying all is right, as cars going in this latterdirection do not pass on any side track. When the switch is in line withthe main track the lever A, is in a vertical position as shown in redFig. 2, when in line with a side track it is in an inclined position andthe movement of the lever A, is sufficientto rotate the frame C, farenough to bring a green glass is, opposite the plate f, while a redglass j, will be opposite the plate f, indicating danger or that all isnot right at one side of the switch and that all is correct at theother, in order to pass on the side track. As the case B, swings looselyon the rod or arm, it will always remain in a vertical position, andhence the glass cannot be cracked or any parts of the lantern injured byheat, a contingency which would occur were the case and lamp 6,inclined.

I am aware that switch lanterns have been previously devised in whichcolored glass plates have been operated or certain parts so adjusted bythe movement of the switch bar or lever that different colored lightsare shown to indicate the position of the switch. I therefore do notclaim broadly an automatic switch lamp; but,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is,

The lantern case B, provided with the colorless glass plates f, f, andloosely attached or suspended to the rod or shaft 0, which is connectedwith the switch bar or lever A, the case being provided with theoscillating or partially rotating frame C, containing colored glassplates and connected with the rod or shaft 0, by means of the arm n, thewhole being arranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JOHN L. WAGER.

Witnesses ALBERT P. MINOR, D. T. BROWN.

